A Biased Look at the New York Yankees, the Greatest Franchise in the History of Sports
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I know, the Yankees have a three game winning streak, and they’ve won five of their last six, but Yankees’ fans can afford to be picky. The very worst team in MLB came to town with a thirteen game losing streak, and they ended that skid at out expense. The Yankees’ win over the Tigers today makes up for it a little bit, but that’s downright embarrassing.
Kyle Farnsworth was the culprit on Friday. Last season, Farnsworth slammed a KC player down to the turf near the end of a bench clearing brawl and it looks like the Royals got their revenge. They tagged him for three runs in the eighth, and even though the Yankees scored a couple and tried to come back, the deficit was just too big. A decent start by Mike Mussina went to waste and Jason Giambi had two hits, two runs and two RBIs in the 7-6 loss.
Obviously the Yankees took out their frustrations on the Royals this Saturday. Fifteen runs on fifteen hits. Alex Rodriguez homered twice and scored four runs and Kelly Stinnett drove in four runs. Chien-Ming Wang improved to 5-2 and he gave up four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in seven innings.
Yesterday, the Yankes sent Kansas City’s starter (does it really matter who it is) packing before he (yes, I’m assuming it’s a man) got through the first inning. We added a single run in the second and took a 6-1 lead into the fourth inning, when the Royals began picking away at the lead. Close is only good in horseshoes and hand gernades and while the Royals made it all the way to five runs, they couldn’t get that sixth. Johnny Damon homered and A-Rod drove in two runs.
I’m a little late with this and the Yankees have already started their next series with the…..Red Hot Tigers???!!! What is the world coming too. We chopped them down to size in game one and Randy Johnson looked sharp. We still have three more and it’s some record high temps in the motor city. Hopefully we can win two or three more before we move on.
The Yankees series win this week was about as ugly as Boston’s ballpark, but wins are wins. And with those wins, the Yankees are now just a half game back of the Red Sox in the AL East.
On Monday, Wang got whacked. He gave up four runs in the third and three more in the seventh. The Yankees’ bats didn’t do much until it didn’t matter and Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada went deep in the ninth inning to make it a 9-5 final.
The Yankees got back on track on Tuesday. Jaret Wright left the game after five shutout innings before he gave it up to Scott Proctor and watched him turn a seven run lead into a three run lead. Kyle Farnsworth added fuel to the fire when he gave up a run in the eighth. A-Rod hit his eleventh homerun of the season and he drove in three runs. Johnny Damon also went deep and he scored two runs. Mariano Rivera got the Yanks out of trouble in the eighth and picked up ninth save in the process.
Yesterday, the Yankees jumped out to an 8-5 lead after five innings before the Red Sox loaded the bases in the eighth inning. Kyle Farnsworth then pulled a rabbit out of his hat and struck out David Ortiz to get out of his own jam. Randy Johnson was hit hard and hit early and he gave up five runs (all in the first three innings) on nine hits with eight strikeouts. Rivera pitched a perfect ninth and picked up his tenth save of the season.
The pathetic Royals are on deck this weekend. There’s no doubt that anything less then a sweep would be a disappointment.
All in all, a pretty good series with two of the best teams in the league. Yes, I know I’m admitting the Mets are good even though I hate the team. I’ve done the same for the Red Sox in the past. All three games in the series were one run games though, and all had a little bit of excitement.
On Friday, the Mets drew first blood. Randy Johnson had another rough start and he lasted only five innings. He gave up five six runs on eight hits and three walks with only five strikeouts. Regardless, the Yankees came back to tie it, only to see Mariano Rivera give up a run in the bottom of the ninth. Robinson Cano drove in two runs in the 7-6 loss, and Derek Jeter scored twice.
The Yanks straightened themselves out on Saturday, and Mike Mussina continued to do the straightening. He went seven innings and pitched well enough for the Yankees to come back and send the game into extra frames with a four run ninth. Then in the top of the eleventh, Andy Phillies singled home Miguel Cairo to put the Yankees ahead. This time Rivera got the job done and he picked up the win.
Yesterday, it was the Mets that came back to win it. The Yankees jumped into the lead with two runs in the fourth, only to see the Mets double that up in the bottom half of the inning with homeruns by Carlos Delgado and David Wright. Tom Glavine was his typical soft ball self, but he held the Yankees in the check. Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, and Bernie Williams all had three hits and Jeter drove in two runs.
The Yanks travel to Boston to play a three game set at the shit box. Right now, we’re a game and a half back of the Sox with the Blue Jays nipping at out heels. I predict a Fenway Park sweep. The good kind.
Even the Yankees can’t win them all. Oakland, even though they’re struggling, is a still a solid team so two of three isn’t bad.
Friday’s game was the surprise and was the game I would have expected the Yankees to drop in this series. Chien-Ming Wang went head to head against Barry Zito and Wang got the job done and then some. He and Mariano Rivera combined to throw a four hit shutout. Alex Rogriguez and Bernie Williams homered in the 2-0 win.
Yesterday we had some drama. A-Rod hit a three run shot in the first inning, then Derek Jeter hit a solo shot to make it 4-0 by the third inning. Jaret Wright continued to cruise along but he ran into trouble in the sixth inning, when the A’s tagged him for two runs. Kyle Farnsworth gave up an unearned run in the ninth to make things interesting, but he held on and picked up the save in the Yankees 4-3 win.
This afternoon’s game was the bummer. The A’s jumped all over the still struggling Randy Johnson and touched him for three runs in the first inning. He then calmed down but gave up another run in the sixth inning. The pen was hit hard as well. In the meantime, Danny Haren shut down the Yankees. The only run the Yankees managed was on Jorge Posada’s solo homerun.
Boston was rained out today so the loss puts them back into a tie with the Yankees. The Rangers come to town for a four game series this week, so hopefully we’ll be able to get back on track against them. Last time we played them we swept them in their own ballpark.
Not a bad series. The Rangers were riding a winning streak heading into the series, and the Yankees summarily started a new losing streak for them. Unfortunately, despite the Yankees winning five straight, the Red Sox have kept pace and we’re still tied with our sparring partner heading into a three game series.
Not all games can be blowouts, and Friday the Yankees provided a little drama. The Yankees took an 8-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh when Joe Torre made the mistake of going to the pen after Mike Mussina gave up a run. Aaron Small and Kyle Farnsworth were then beaten down to the tune of five more runs, and just like that, the Yankees had only a one run game. Mariano Rivera did his job though, and he got the final batter out in that eighth inning and pitched a shutout ninth to notch his sixth save of the season.
Mussina picked up the win and he’s now 5-1. Alex Rodriguez drove in three runs and Derek Jeter drove in two and scored twice in the 8-7 win.
Things went a lot more smoothly on Saturday. The game was tied 1-1 until the Yankees scored fivei in the sixth inning to open the game up. Shawn Chacon settled down nicely after giving up a run in the first inning and he improved to 4-1 on the season. A-Rod hit his sixth homerun of the season and Jason Giambi went yard for the tenth time this year.
The Yankees finished up the sweep yesterday. A five run fourth inning was the difference in the game. Hideki Matsui went two for two with a homerun, three RBIs and two runs in the 8-5 win. Bernie Williams drove in two runs and A-Rod scored twice. Chien-Ming Wang improved to 2-1 on the season. He gave up three runs on seven hits in six innings of work.
The Yankees host the Red Sox at majestic Yankee Stadium beginning on Tuesday. Whoever comes out on top in this series will be in first place heading into the weekend, so it doesn’t get much more important than this.
Not very happy on a few different levels. Losing Matsui, when Sheffield is on the DL, really hurts. And then lose like that to the Red Sox…..
Things turn around this weekend. Yankees sweep.
Not a bad series. The Rangers were riding a winning streak heading into the series, and the Yankees summarily started their new losing streak for them. Unfortunately, despite the Yankees winning five straight, the Red Sox have kept pace and we’re still tied with our sparring partner heading into a three game series.
Not all games can be blowouts, and Friday the Yankees provided a little drama. The Yankees took an 8-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh when Joe Torre made the mistake of going to the pen after Mike Mussina gave up a run. Aaron Small and Kyle Farnsworth were then beaten down to the tune of five more runs, and just like that, the Yankees had only a one run game. Mariano Rivera did his job though, and he got the final batter out in that eighth inning and pitched a shutout ninth to notch his sixth save of the season.
Mussina picked up the win and he’s now 5-1. Alex Rodriguez drove in three runs and Derek Jeter drove in two and scored twice in the 8-7 win.
Things went a lot more smoothly on Saturday. The game was tied 1-1 until the Yankees scored fivei in the sixth inning to open the game up. Shawn Chacon settled down nicely after giving up a run in the first inning and he improved to 4-1 on the season. A-Rod hit his sixth homerun of the season and Jason Giambi went yard for the tenth time this year.
The Yankees finished up the sweep yesterday. A five run fourth inning was the difference in the game. Hideki Matsui went two for two with a homerun, three RBIs and two runs in the 8-5 win. Bernie Williams drove in two runs and A-Rod scored twice. Chien-Ming Wang improved to 2-1 on the season. He gave up three runs on seven hits in six innings of work.
The Yankees host the Red Sox at majestic Yankee Stadium beginning on Tuesday. Whoever comes out on top in this series will be in first place heading into the weekend, so it doesn’t get much more important than this.
Just when things start looking tough, we play the Devil Rays and get back on track. Two games, two wins. And that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
Things weren’t that easy on Wednesday though. The Yankees were down 2-0 until they tied it in the seventh. Then in the top of the tenth, Alex Rodriguez singled home Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui singled home Derek Jeter to seal up the win. Jaret Wright had a solid start and gave up two runs on three hits in six innings. Kyle Farnsworth picked up the win and Mariano Rivera saved his fifth game of the season.
Last night we had an easy time at least near the end of the game. The Yankees trailed 5-4 heading into the seventh when they opened things up. They scored two runs in seventh to take the lead then Johnny Damon hit a grand slam in the eighth. Bernie Williams had two hits and two RBIs and Matsui, Posada and Robinson Cano all scored two runs. Randy Johnson was roughed up but still improved to 5-2 on the season. He gave up five runs on seven hits with four strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
The Yankees travel to Arlington to take on the Rangers this weekend. It’ll be a battle of the first place teams, even though I know we’re tied with the Red Sox.
Rather then talk about the loss to the Red Sox on Monday and the subsequent rain out (which we would have won, giving us a split), I want to talk about a New York Yankees icon. 70 years ago today, Joe DiMaggio made his major league debut, and what a debut it was. In a 14-5 blowout over the St. Louis Browns, DiMaggio had three hits, including a triple, and three runs. If I had to rate DiMaggio as far as Yankees go, I’d say he has to be a close third behind Lou Gehrig then Babe Ruth, although a lot of people give him the nod over Gehrig because he missed three seasons because of World War II.
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the DiMaggio’s debut, I’m going to take a break from my World Series Retrospective series and take a look at DiMaggio, season by season. It should be a fun ride back to some great times when the Yankees were winning World Series after World Series.
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